The Lord’s Feasts
His Appointed Times
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘The LORD’S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations — My appointed times are these.…” Lev 23:2
| The feasts that God gave in the Old Testament are a mystery revelation of Jesus of Nazareth. How have you treated the truth, beauty, and power of what He has done and will do on these days? | |
| PASSOVER | Jesus of Nazareth was born and died on Passover. He is the unblemished Passover Lamb of God. |
| UNLEAVENED BREAD | Jesus was buried in the earth and later ascended to heaven during the week of Unleavened Bread. He is the unleavened Bread of Life. |
| FIRST FRUITS | Jesus rose from the dead on the day of First Fruits. He is the firstborn of the resurrection, the first — of those who have lived and died — to enter the house of God in heaven. |
| SHAVUOT / PENTECOST | Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and “fire.” |
| The Lord has already fulfilled His four spring appointed times. Might His three remaining fall feasts be fulfilled by major end-time events? Consider: | |
| ROSH HASHANAH / TRUMPETS | In the Old Testament, trumpets were blown to call assemblies or alert for war. Might the Battle of Hamon-Gog — the nuclear war at the Sixth Seal of Revelation — come on the Day of Trumpets, when sirens (trumpets) sound all over the world? What if all true believers at that time, die and are called to heaven? This would be His first assembly of believers in heaven. (Of all who have lived and died, only Jesus is currently in heaven.) |
| YOM KIPPUR / DAY OF ATONEMENT | The Lord will return at the Seventh Trumpet of Revelation: Armageddon. Might His return coincide with the Day of Atonement, the day He says all must humble their souls? On that terrifying day, will He, the righteous Judge, be your covering Atonement? |
| SUKKOT / BOOTHS | After the Lord’s return, He will reign on earth from Jerusalem for a thousand years. During that time, the nations will be required to go up to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Feast of Booths. After the thousand years, at the beginning of His eternal kingdom, His marriage feast will be held in the New Jerusalem. |
With all that the Lord has done and will do for His appointed times, doesn’t He deserve to be honored on His feasts? Will you honor Him by spending time in His Word, alone with Him? His appointed times are far, far more important to Him than people realize. Will they become important to you?
The Old Testament feasts … “are a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Col 2:17
PASSOVER / HIS DEATH
- “Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be delivered up for crucifixion.” Mt 26:2
- “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jn 1:29
- “For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” 1Co 5:7-8
UNLEAVENED BREAD / HIS BURIAL & ASCENSION
- “He was buried” 1Co 15:4
- Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father” … [later that day] “touch Me and see” Jn 20:17, Lk 24:39
- “I am the bread of life … the bread that came down out of heaven.” Jn 6:35,41,48,51
FIRST FRUITS / HIS RESURRECTION
- But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb … “He is not here, but He has risen.” Lk 24:1,6 (First Fruits is the day after the Sabbath during the week of Unleavened Bread)
- Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 1Co 15:20
- Christ the first fruits 1Co 15:23
FEAST OF WEEKS / HIS GIVING OF THE SPIRIT
- And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together Acts 2:1
- And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit Acts 2:4
- “having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” Acts 2:33
DAY OF TRUMPETS / HIS FIRST ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS IN HEAVEN?
- “no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” Jn 3:13
- And I looked when He broke the sixth seal … the sky was split apart like a scroll Rev 6:12-17
- After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude … standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes” Rev 7:9
DAY OF ATONEMENT / HIS RETURN?
- “the day of atonement … you shall humble your souls” Lev 23:27
- “the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming … with power” Mt 24:30
- “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven … dealing out retribution” 2Ths 1:7-9
BOOTHS / HIS MARRIAGE FEAST?
- [millennium] …any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. Ze 14:16-19
- [eternity] “the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Rev 19:7
- [eternity] “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Rev 19:9
KEY FEASTS SCRIPTURES
FIRST PASSOVER & UNLEAVENED BREAD: Ex 12; Ex 13
ALL APPOINTED TIMES: Lev 23; Num 28:16-29:40; Dt 16:1-15
THREE TIMES A YEAR: Ex 23:14-17; 34:18-23; Dt 16:16
MORE FROM THE OLD: Lev 16:29-31 (Atonement); Lev 25:8-13 (Atonement/Jubilee); Num 9:1-14 (Passover); Dt 31:10-13 (Booths); Ze 14:16-19 (Booths)
FIRST FOUR MENTIONED IN ORDER IN 1COR: 5:7-8 (Passover, UB); 15:20,23 (First Fruits); 16:8 (Pentecost)
REVELATION: Jesus is called “The Lamb” more than anything else. He is God’s Passover Lamb forever.